Cat Converter theft ring....long read, but a good one

[lbhsbz]

How Stealing Catalytic Converters Became The Latest Crime Trend

A major federal case shows exactly what happens after someone steals this valuable car part.

www.huffpost.com

"
Over at least two years, DG Auto paid around $6 million to M&M Auto, $13 million to Curtis Cores, and $45 million to Capital Cores.
From October 2019 to October 2022, Vang Auto sold $38 million worth of converters to DG Auto. Over that span, DG Auto received $545 million from Dowa Metals and Mining America. "

 

[Flatsix66]

It will be interesting to see with that one recycler out of action, I wonder how much effect that will have on converter theft?

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Like copper thefts, the salvage companies are in on it.

 

[Backlash]

I will say, while catalytic converter thefts have continued, they have slowed somewhat in the San Gabriel Valley. Last summer it was pretty bad. Maybe the winter months and the rain slowed things down a bit, who knows. With the summer coming, maybe things will get back into full swing.

 

[C-Ya]

It’s an epidemic in Florida too. Broad daylight in a crowded parking lot seems to get the most pics and videos on FB.

 

[lbhsbz]

The issue is that these fuckheads put the victims out for in some cases...$10K +, while they make off with their $200-1000. I'm seriously surprised that there aren't more dead MFs that the victims caught in the act.

 

[Javajoe]

Had one stolen last week 3 houses up. I was out of town. 3am super loud truck 30 second job. I saw a bunch of camera footage from my wife and neighbors. Neighbors fired 5 rounds at them. They got away

 

[TimeBandit]

I've repaired lots of cat theft cars, I've heard lots of crazy stories of when/where the cat was taken.

$545 MILLION dollars? Is that the level of crime before law enforcement finally takes action?

It's a double whammy in California, no law enforcement and Cats that cost 2X or 3X more than what you can buy one for in other states.

 

[endobear]

I've repaired lots of cat theft cars, I've heard lots of crazy stories of when/where the cat was taken.

$545 MILLION dollars? Is that the level of crime before law enforcement finally takes action?

It's a double whammy in California, no law enforcement and Cats that cost 2X or 3X more than what you can buy one for in other states.

Just put 3 non California stamped cats in the wife's car last weekend. $300
Was going to be $2700 for cali tamped cats.

 

[TimeBandit]

Just put 3 non California stamped cats in the wife's car last weekend. $300
Was going to be $2700 for cali tamped cats.

Sadly they will fail "visual" inspection at the next smog check (if you reside in California).

That is "if" the smog tech looks at them... some do, some don't.

 

[lbhsbz]

Just put 3 non California stamped cats in the wife's car last weekend. $300
Was going to be $2700 for cali tamped cats.

You’ll never legally pass a smog test again.

 

[lbhsbz]

Sadly they will fail "visual" inspection at the next smog check (if you reside in California).

That is "if" the smog tech looks at them... some do, some don't.

The ones that don’t aren’t performing the test correctly and should be subject to the same fines that the illegal smog guys are. I spent a good bit of money to fix my shit in a compliant manner…if that doesn’t matter, someone owes me some $$$

 

[DLC]

That’s some bundle of CASH!

I sure hope they get to think about about that for a LONG time….

 

[propcheck]

This is why it is important to keep your catalytic converters stored safely in the shop so they cannot be stolen while out driving around

 

[endobear]

Sadly they will fail "visual" inspection at the next smog check (if you reside in California).

That is "if" the smog tech looks at them... some do, some don't.

There is absolutely no way you could see the stamp on 2 of the 3 cats without pulling some parts.
+ I don't live in Cali.
+ I don't have emissions in my county.

 

[lbhsbz]

There is absolutely no way you could see the stamp on 2 of the 3 cats without pulling some parts.
+ I don't live in Cali.
+ I don't have emissions in my county.

Its easy to tell and OEM unit from Aftermarket....if it's aftermarket, the marking needs to be visible. I questioned some smog guys I know, as well as a referee about this at a conference a while back, with concern to the aftermarket shields being installed....and the answer was that the CAT needs to be visible from underneath the car such that a smog tech can verify the condition/correctness. If it's not visible, they can fail you.

 

[73mandella]

Progressive LA councilwoman blames Toyota for your catalytic converter being stolen

Los Angeles Daily News - Sunday, May 7th 2023

At a town hall event explaining her vote, Democratic L.A. Councilwoman Nithya Raman placed all of the blame on … Toyota!

“In this case, I think one of the things that infuriates me is that we have a company — whatever, Toyota — who makes the Prius, that essentially has a device on their cars which is super easy to remove. It’s basically the value of a MacBook, right?” said Raman. “That is put in a place that is incredibly easy to access in your car, and the thefts related to this issue have essentially — all of the costs of that — are given to us to bear instead of them [Toyota] having to manufacture a car that actually is not so easy to be stolen.”

You heard her right, instead of blaming car thieves, Raman is blaming the manufacturers and car owners for making car theft too easy.

 

[Backlash]

Obviously one doesn't have to be intelligent in order to be elected as a council member. What a fucking idiot.

 

[Deckin Around]

Its easy to tell and OEM unit from Aftermarket....if it's aftermarket, the marking needs to be visible. I questioned some smog guys I know, as well as a referee about this at a conference a while back, with concern to the aftermarket shields being installed....and the answer was that the CAT needs to be visible from underneath the car such that a smog tech can verify the condition/correctness. If it's not visible, they can fail you.

I didn't know and welded my "CA compliant" cat on my jeep with the number facing up toward the chassis. It was tucked up tight enough that even with his little mirror the smog guy couldn't see the number. Part of that reason was also that the cat had been ceramic coated to reduce heat on the floorboards and the coating had filled in the #'s. I cut it off, luckily wire-wheeled the ceramic coating off enough so you could see the #'s and that time I added V-band clamps on each side for easy removal and replacement and I had a straight pipe and v-clamps made for the same spot after it was smogged. Can't steal what's not there and it's not as hot.

 

[Orange Juice]

Not a problem in the EV world.

 

[spectra3279]

Not a problem on my truck. Non catalyst engine.

 

[spectra3279]

One thing with my truck. I removed the muffler and straight piped it. Now no engine braking what so ever.

 

[pronstar]

One thing with my truck. I removed the muffler and straight piped it. Now no engine braking what so ever.

Engine braking doesn’t happen in the exhaust pipes…you have another issue

 

[spectra3279]

Engine braking doesn’t happen in the exhaust pipes…you have another issue

Muffler provided back pressure for it. Manual transmission

 

[C-2]

Thanks for sharing

 

[TomD]

I didn't know and welded my "CA compliant" cat on my jeep with the number facing up toward the chassis. It was tucked up tight enough that even with his little mirror the smog guy couldn't see the number. Part of that reason was also that the cat had been ceramic coated to reduce heat on the floorboards and the coating had filled in the #'s. I cut it off, luckily wire-wheeled the ceramic coating off enough so you could see the #'s and that time I added V-band clamps on each side for easy removal and replacement and I had a straight pipe and v-clamps made for the same spot after it was smogged. Can't steal what's not there and it's not as hot.

Nice "Test Pipe" work around.

 

[bonesfab]

Think the feds would allow a business like that. Make cat replacement pipes for "temporary" use while waiting for the replacement cat to be available? You know just trying to do our part to help the problem. Or they could be used to replace the cats and they could be safely stored in the garage.

 

[bilz]

In the early 80's, I purchased a converter test pipe, not sure from which auto store. Funny thing about those is they could often be inadvertently left on longer than the test time

 

[hallett21]

Buddy and his fiancé just bought a house off of Palo Verde in Long Beach. They got one of his service vans last night. I guess the new Nissan ones cost 5k to replace. Think I’ll be helping them put up a fence in the next few weeks.

They’ve been in the house 2 weeks….

 

[NicPaus]

Buddy and his fiancé just bought a house off of Palo Verde in Long Beach. They got one of his service vans last night. I guess the new Nissan ones cost 5k to replace. Think I’ll be helping them put up a fence in the next few weeks.

They’ve been in the house 2 weeks….

I was told they are the most expensive ones. The muffler shop I went to said $7200 he gets from insurance for them.

This bust was a week after they stole my Tundra cats. Damn truck has 4. They got the 2 easy ones. Running with just 2 now. No way I am paying 3200 to replace them. Sheriff told me they would be stolen in a week. Muffler shop straight pipes until the cats come in. But only if you pay in full for replacement.

 

[pronstar]

In the early 80's, I purchased a converter test pipe, not sure from which auto store. Funny thing about those is they could often be inadvertently left on longer than the test time

My dad got one for his 1982 Cutlass Supreme Bro-Ham.

It had the 3.8L V6, rated at 112hp / 190 lb-ft from the factory.

As a kid I was hoping the test pipe would unlock the NASCAR lurking within.

I was mistaken